Spool-holder.



JJH. SHEARN.

Patented July 20, 1915.

ATTORNEY.

JOSEPH H. SHEARN, 0F LEEDS, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO NONOTUCK SILK COMPANY, OF FLORENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ACORPORATION CI-IUSETTS.

0F MASSA- SPOOL-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

Application filed July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,798.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. SHEARN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Leeds, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spool-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spool holders.

An object of the .invention is to provide a convenient andimproved means for supporting a group of spools of thread.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described which is arranged for convenient use.

A further object is to provide a holder for a group of spools so arranged that a portion of the thread on each spool and one end face of the spool are visible to the operator.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description to follow.

In general, my device comprises in one preferred form a body member provided with a series of holes, horizontally disposed therein and adapted to receive the spools. A series of vertical slits, tangentially arranged with respect to. said holes communicate between the holes and thelower face of the body member and afi'ord a means for leading the thread from the body. A pivoted bar memberis adapted to close off a verysmall portion of each of said holes to retain the spools in position therein. A second bar member in parallel relation with and secured to the first bar member is adapted to close the ends of all of the tangential slits. This second, bar member not only confines the threads within the slits but forms a smooth rounded guide which prevents the threads from catching on the edges of the slits.

My device forms a simple and inexpensive means for supporting a number of spools. It is particularly adapted for use by tailors and dressmakers and forms a convenient holder for any desired number of spools. The thread on spools arranged in my container is kept clean and cannot become snarled or tangled. Thus, it is an economical device and saves waste of thread. Furthermore, the thread spools are so supported and arranged that a portion of the thread is visible as well as the color number on the end face of the spool. Thus the opthe body portion of the spool holder made of wood or any other suitable material.

This member 0; is adapted to be secured to a table in a convenient position by the arms m. Disposed within the body a is a series of horizontal holes Z) which extend from the front face of the bodya backwardly toward but not through the rear face thereof. The holes I) are arranged in a horizontal row and in parallel relation one with another. These holes 7) are adapted to receive spools Z which are freely rotatable therein but are restrained from longitudinal movement by means to be described. The top face of the body a is provided with a curved channel it, longitudinally disposed. This channel 72. is so arranged that the intersection thereof with the holes 6 forms apertures 2' through which the color and quality of the thread is clearly visible. It is also to benoted that practically the entire end face of'each spool Z is visible which allows the operator to see the number thereon as indicated in Fig. 2. This number usually indicates the exact shade of the thread'on the spool.

Pivotally mounted in the member a at d is a depending bar 0 and securedthereto and in parallel relation therewith is a second bar member 6. The member 0 is adapted when in the position shown in Fig. 1 to close off a very small portion of the holes 6 thereby restraining the spools Z from longitudinal movement in said holes. The second bar 6 is adapted to swing in under the bottom face of the body a and to be removably secured thereto by a spring catch 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Both bars 0 and 0 can be swung upwardly on the pivot 03 to permit the insertion of spools Z into the holes 6.

Vertical slits g, tangentially arranged relative to the periphery of holes I), are provided in member a which connect the bottom face thereof with the holes 6. These slits 9, clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, form a passageway for the threads 71. as they leave the spools b. Centrally arranged on the front face of the body a is a hook-shaped de vice j which bears a cutter j, by means of which the threads 70 may be severed. The thread 70 (see Fig. 2) is shown drawn up from the slit 9 over the hook member A slight pull on the free end of the thread in will sever the same against the cutter 7'. It is to be noted particularly that the member 0, previously described, closes the open end of all the slits g and thus confines the threads 70 within the slitted openings 9. Furthermore, the member 6 forms a smooth rounded guide for the threads. Thus when the thread is is drawn up, as shown in Fig. 2, it is prevented from catching upon the edges of the slitted openings 9 by this bar 0.

Thus, I have provided a simple, inexpensive, yet convenient and eflicient, means for holding a number of spools of thread. It is recognized that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure herein disclosed without departing from the scope of my invention which is more truly defined in the appended claims.

l/Vhat I claim is 1. A spool holder, comprising, a body member with a plurality of holes in one face thereof, adapted to receive spools of thread, said body member being formed with a plurality of slits, extending from said holes to another face of said body, whereby threads from said spools may be conducted from said body, a depending bar pivoted to said body and adapted when in one position to hold said spools within said body and when in another position to permit the insertion of said spools into said holes, and means to secure said bar in the first-named position.

2. A spool holder, comprising, a body member with a plurality of holes in one face thereofadapted to receive spools of thread, said body member being formed with a plurality of slits, tangentially arranged with respect to said holes and extending therefrom to another face of said body, whereby threads from said spool may be conducted from said body, a depending bar pivoted to said body and adapted when in one position to hold said spools within said body and when in another position to permit the insertion of said spools into said holes, a second bar secured to said firstnamed bar, adapted to confine the threads in said slits, and means to secure both bars in the first-named position.

3. A spool holder, comprising, in combination, a body member with a plurality of holes in one face thereof, adapted to receive spools of thread, said body member being formed with a plurality of slits, tangentially arranged with respect to said holes and extending therefrom to another face of said body, whereby threads from said spools may be conducted from said body, a depending bar pivoted to said body and adapted when in one position to hold said spools within said body and when in another position to permit the insertion of said spools into said holes, a second bar secured to said first-named bar, adapted to confine the threads in said slits, means to secure both bars in the first-named position, and a cutter member secured to said body member.

4. A spool holder, comprising, a body member provided with a row of horizontally arranged holes leading from one face thereof adapted to receive spools of thread, and vertical slits one leading from each hole to the bottom and front face of the member through which the thread may pass from each spool, means constructed to partially close the open end of all of said holes to bind the spools therein and to close the front bottom end of all of said slits to insure the thread leaving the slits through the bottom openings, said means being arranged along the bottom front edge of the body member whereby the thread may be guided and slid therealong without catching in the slit openings.

JOSEPH H. SHEARN.

Witnesses:

H. E. HARTWELL, F. G. NEAL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

